World Timelines - England - 800 BC-AD 43 Iron Age

British Isles > England

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Ironworking	Farming in Iron Age England	Iron Age hillforts

Events

800 BC

Iron working introduced to Britain

750 BC

Iron begins to replace bronze as principal metal used

600 BC

Hillforts begin to be constructed in the south-west

500 BC

Trade between south England, Ireland and Brittany flourishes

500 BC

Early Celtic or La Tène art emerges

475 BC

Danebury in Hampshire, a multivallate hillfort, built

300 BC

More complex hillforts are built

300 BC

Glastonbury lake village occupied

100 BC

Around this time large ramparts are built at Maiden Castle hillfort

80 BC

Around this time the Corieltauvi produce their first gold coinage

60 BC

Iceni begin producing coins

56 BC

Cassivellaunus of the Catuvellauni invades Trinovantes territory and kills their leader

56 BC

Mandubracius of the Trinovantes asks Rome for help

55 BC

Julius Caesar's first unsuccessful invasion into Britain

54 BC

Caesar returns to Britain and defeats the Catuvellauni

50 BC

Around this time the Corieltauvi produce their first silver coinage

50 BC

Commius flees to England from Gaul and becomes leader of the Atrebates

50 BC

Around this time gold stater coins begin to be produced by the Durotriges

35 BC

Commius the Younger becomes leader of the Atrebates

25 BC

Around this time Tasciovanus becomes leader of the Catuvellauni

20 BC

Around this time Bodvoc is leader of the northern Dobunni

20 BC

Around this time Corio is leader of the southern Dobunni

20 BC

Tincomarus becomes leader of the Atrebates and establishes an oppidum at Calleva

20 BC

The Catuvellauni, led by Tasciovanus, are a principal power in Britain

15 BC

For the next 25 years a ruler known as Andocos issues coins in the western part of the Catuvellauni territory

15 BC

Around this time Addedomaros became leader of the Trinovantes and moves his capital to a new site - Camulodunum

15 BC

Atrebates produce coins in West Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey

10 BC

Around this time Dubnovellaunus becomes leader of the Trinovantes

5 BC

Around this time the Durotriges produced cast bronze coinage

AD 1

Around this time Anted[…] becomes leader of the Dobunni and unites the north and south territories

AD 5

Rome acknowledges Cunobelin, leader of the Catuvellauni

AD 7

Tincomarus of the Atrebates is deposed by Epillus and flees to Rome

AD 8

Around this time Verica becomes leader of the Atrebates

AD 9

Cunobelin of the Catuvellauni attacks and captures the capital of the Trinovantes

AD 10

Cunobelin becomes leader of the Catuvellauni

AD 10

Around this time Cunobelinus of the Catevellauni secures position as over-king of much of south-east England

AD 25

Around this time the Catuvellauni begin to expand their territories

AD 25

Verica of the Atrebates is deposed by Epaticcus of the Catuvellauni

AD 30

Eisu[…] becomes leader of the Dobunni

AD 35

Death of Epaticcus of the Catuvellauni; Verica regains some territory

AD 35

Adminus, son of Cunobelin of the Catuvellauni, becomes leader of the Cantiaci

AD 35

Togodumnus, son of Cunobelin, is responsible for Catuvellauni homelands, based at Verulamium

AD 40

Adminus expelled from the Cantiaci by Caratacus and Togodumnus

AD 41

Death of Cunobelinus; Togodumnus and Caratacus become leaders of the Catuvellauni

AD 41

Caratacus and Togodumnus of the Catuvellauni attack the Atrebates

AD 41

Adminius asks the emperor Caligula for help but invasion plans are later dropped

AD 42

Verica of the Atrebates goes to Rome to ask for help against the expansion of the Catuvellauni

England

800 BC-AD 43 Iron Age

The landscape of England varies from region to region. To the south and east there are rolling chalk hills, fens and river valleys. To the north and west the landscape is more mountainous and stony. Despite these regional differences, Iron Age Britons lived in similar houses and farmed the same types of animal and crops.

However, during this period, communities show a marked degree of regional diversity in other areas of their lives. There are differences in the types of pottery produced from region to region, the types of metal objects used, the types of settlements, and the ways in which the dead were buried. For example, the hillforts or hilltop enclosures that dominate central and southern England are rare in the east of the country. The wheel-thrown pots that are characteristic of late Iron Age ceramics from the south east of the country do not seem to have been made or used in the north.

The distinct regional nature of England during the Iron Age becomes visible at the very end of the period with the emergence of ‘tribal’ groups such as the Brigantes, the Dobunni and the Durotriges. Evidence for some of these groups comes from their coins, which were the first to be produced in the British Isles.

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